2017 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 51-58
Low-yield of rainy season rice in the lower part of a paddy field zone, attributable to delayed field ponding and transplanting, and non-usage of any of the paddy fields for dry season cropping were concerning issues in N Village in the central part of Laos. Early field ponding and transplanting in the lowland, and dry season cropping in upper areas of the paddy field zone were expected to be possible using existing reservoirs located in the upper areas. Therefore, storage capacities, design of water facilities, and ownership, utilization, and management of reservoirs on two rivers were investigated. The reservoir capacities are 4,400 m3 on each river. Intake management was difficult with existing irrigation facilities, and most stored water could not be utilized. It was necessary to install new intake equipment adaptable to the village needs. Each reservoir was individually owned as fishponds. The benefits of irrigation were considered to be limited to a part of water users. In order to build a consensus among all water users, it is imperative for all water users, including reservoir owners, to aim at achieving an overall benefit at the village level through efficient use of water resources.
